Moonstone

Moonstone is a variety of feldspar with a flash of blue color believed to be derived from the Moon; however, the ingredients for moonstone come from cooled magma. This gemstone is mined in Sri Lanka, India, Australia, Myanmar, and the United States. Rumors say the blue moonstone washes up by the tides when the Sun and Moon are in alignment once in every twenty-one years. The figure of speech, "once in a blue moon", emerges from this belief. In reference to this alignment, the occurrence known as a saros period occurs in eighteen years, eleven days, and eight hours. The moonstone was known by the Ancients as Selenite; furthermore, depending on the brightness of the moon's light, the moonstone could either foretell the future or reconcile lovers, according to Charles W. King. He also says, if the moonstone is held inside one's mouth, it can help the bearer to decide what affairs to be taken and which to leave alone — a practice to help keep one’s thoughts to himself. According to Pliny, the “selenitis” today known as moonstone was said to be native of Arabia in spite of its Moonlike resemblance,. It waxed and waned with the luminary phases; and, by his report, reflected the color of honey and image of the face of the Moon. By virtue of its chatoyancy, the moonstone like the cat’s-eye was thought to be capable of hypnosis known as self-trance. The light reflected by a moonstone was believed to be a living spirit and the epitome of good luck. Moonstone is thought to balance the emotions of the wearer; so, for better or worse, it gives awareness of qualities such as desire inside the subconscious. Those with an affinity for this gemstone are said to have a psychic harmony with the thoughts and feelings of others. To that end, the moon's energy is thought to be embodied by the monoclinic structure of the crystal. High quality moonstones exhibit a "blue flash" making this gem better suited for those with an affinity for eclipses and born under the sign of Libra.

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Charles William King was a British writer and Victorian gem expert. His collection of engraved gems was presented to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in 1881 as the result of his failing eyesight.

Pliny the Elder was an Italian historian who died near Pompeii in 79 AD. His books on natural history were used throughout the Middle Ages as a reference and compilation of knowledge. As Western science emerged from the medieval period, mistakes were discovered in his compiling of information and these were based on errors in reading original authors. His Natural History has since been credited as the first encyclopedia.